An actor who chose roles not safe all the time, scene-stealing Raul Julia (1940-1994), the eldest of four children, spent his first 24 years in Puerto Rico where his beloved parents wanted him to become a lawyer.

He wanted something else: "When I looked inside myself, I knew that acting was what I wanted to do."

So he pursued his desire on stage, taking risks and landing roles with his outrageous auditions. Once he got the role, he did exhaustive research and earned a reputation for talent, professionalism, and dedication, becoming a mentor for other Hispanic actors.

"Be willing to fail," he advised. "Failure is part of success. Don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself... Take risks. It opens you to greatness."